Fruit facing apparatus



Jan. 3, 1933. J. w. TREW 1,892,818

FRUI T FAG ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3-,1-933. TREW 1,892,818

FRUIT FACING APPARATUS Filed No v. 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J: I/\/- 'T'rew Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES W. TREW, OF GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN S. RICE, 0F

' BIGLERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT rncnve APPARATUS Application filed November 12, 1931. Serial No. 574,604.

This invention relates to a fruit facing apparatus, and it is an objectof the lnvention to provide an apparatus of this kind comprising two relatively movable members adapted to receive therebetween an end portion of a liner whereby upon relative move ment of said members in one direction they operate to bend inwardly between the members said portion of the liner whereby to materially increase the esthetic value of the facing of the package and said members also operating to provide means to protect the facing layer of fruit against injury by the package cover or lid while being applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind particularly intended to be used in the facing of a package of fruit or the like in which package is embodied a liner carrying fiaps to overlie the content of the package and which apparatus comprises two relatively movable members which, upon proper operation, serve to force the liner flaps inwardly as desired and which members also provide means to protect the package content against injury when the lid or cover is being applied.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind comprising two members adapted to be manually operated and which, when moved one toward the other, provide an effective means for forcing inwardly an end portion or end flaps of a liner so that said end portion or flaps will be caused to overlie the facing layer of the package to increase the esthetic value of the package facing and also to protect the top or facing layer of the package against injury when the package lid or cover is applied.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved fruit facing apparatuswhereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise moreconvenient and advanta geous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in its initial position with respect to a filled basket or kindred package;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the position of the apparatus during the period the package lid or cover is being applied;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the apparatus as herein disclosed;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in rear elevation of one of the members of the apparatus as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a basket or other desired container which, before being filled, has placed therein a liner L. The upper or outer portion of the liner L is provided with flaps 1 adapted to be disposed or flexed inwardly over the top or facing layer of the fruit or the like within the basket or container B whereby the value of the package is materially increased as the flaps 1 provide means for protecting the outer or marginal row of fruit or the like in the top or facing layer from bruising or other injury and at the same time materially increase the esthetic value of the package.

From a commercially practical standpoint in the use of a liner L with referred to it is important that means be pro vided to effect the desired inward bending or flexing of the flaps over the top or facing layer of the content of the filled basket or container B and before applying the lid or cover A and its associated cap C.

As hereindisclosed I provide an apparatus comprising two substantially duplicate members M each substantially semi-circular in form and disposed on a radius determined by end flaps 1 as just the size of the package with which the apparatus is intended to be used. Each of the members M is formed of metal or other material capable of producing a rigid structure which will withstand strain imposed thereupon. Each of these members hf is also curved in cross section with said curvature disposed inwardly of the member.

The outer marginal portion of the membcr M has riveted, as at 2, or otherwise secured thereto a reinforcing and strengthening band 3 and to th central portion of this band 3 is riveted or otherwise aflixed an outstanding flange or lip 4 providing means whereby a member M may be effectively grasped and held by a hand of the operator.

At its extremity each of the members M has its lower portion cut away, as at 5, thus providing clearance for the conventional handle of the basket or container B, said handle being indicated by broken lines at G in Figure 2. The inner margin of each of the cut away portions 5 is disposed on an inward curvature as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 so that in the inward movement of the mem bers M one toward the other during a working operation interference or obstruction to the desired movement by a handle 6 is eliminated as said curved edge will permit the member to readily pass by such handle. These cut away portions 5 also provide extensions at the ex tremities of the inwardly disposed portion of the member, said extensions being intended to overlap similar extensions of a second member so that when the members are used in multiple there will be provided what may be termed a continuous means to protect the content of the container against injury as the cover is being applied to the container.

As a basket or container B is filled an operator, who holds a member M in each hand, places said member in what might be termed a surrounding position with respect to the basket or container B as illustrated in Figure 1 and moves said members M inwardly one toward the other to substantially the position illustrated in Figure 2. This relative movement of the members M bonds or flexes the flaps 1 of the liner L inwardly over the top or facing layer of the fruit or other content of the basket or container B. With the members M in this position as illustrated in Figure 2, the lid or cover A is engaged in a conventional manner with one of the handles 6 of the basket or container B and is then pressed or forced downwardly to effect the desired connection with the second handle 6.

During this operation the members M serve effectually to protect the marginal row of fruit or the like in the top or facing layer against bruising or other injury by contact of the rim 7 of the cover or lid A therewith. Just before the connection of the lid or cover A with the second handle is effected the operator moves the members M outwardly with respectto the package and each other thus leaving the flaps 1 properly flexed or bent inwardly to assure further protection of the marginal row of fruit or the like in the top or facing layer of the basket content and also to materially increase the esthetic Value of the package.

The effectiveness of my improved appa z tus further resides in the fact that each of the members M is so constructed initially to have a substantially fixed formation and also in the fact that it is produced of material of such dimensions and character to make the members M very light so that they can be readily and conveniently handled by the operator.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a fruit facing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus for bending inwardly an end portion of a package liner after the liner has been placed in the container and the container has been filled, comprising a member adapted to have a surrounding position with respect to the container and having an inwardly disposed substantially rigid portion for contact with the liner to bend the same inwardly as said member is moved inwardly of the container, said member when in a position to move the liner inwardly of the container constituting a means to protect the content of the container against injury upon application of a cover to the container.

2. An apparatus for bending inwardly an end portion of a. package liner after the liner has been placed in the container and the container has been filled, comprising a member adapted to have a surrounding position with respect to the container and having an inwardly disposed substantially rigid portion for contact with the liner to bend the same inwardly as said member is moved inwardly of the container, said member when in a position to move the liner inwardly of the container constituting a means to protect the content of the container against injury upon application of a cover to the container, the ends of the inwardly disposed portion be ing provided with extensions to overlie similar extensions of a second member.

3. An apparatus for bending inwardly an end portion of a package liner after the liner has been placed in the container and the container has been filled, comprising a member adapted to have a surrounding position with respect to the container and having an inwardly disposed substantially rigid portion for contact with the liner to bend the same inwardly as said member is moved inwardly of the container, said member when in a position to move the liner inwardly of the container constituting a means to protect the content of the container against injury upon application of a cover to the container,,said inwardly disposed portion being curved in cross sec tion.

4. An apparatus for bending inwardly an end portion of a package liner after the liner has been placed in the container and the container has been filled, comprising a member adapted to have a surrounding position with respect to the container and having an inwardly disposed substantially rigid portion for contact with the liner to bend the same inwardly as said member is moved inwardly of the container, said member when in a position to move the liner inwardly of the container constituting a means to protect the content of the container against injury upon application of a cover to the container, said member being substantially semi-circular in plan.

5. An apparatus for bending inwardly an end portion of a package liner after the liner has been placed in the container and the container has been filled, comprising a member adapted to have a surrounding position with respect to the container and having an in wardly disposed substantially rigid portion for contact with the liner to bend the same inwardly as said member is moved inwardly of the container, said member when in a position to move the liner inwardly of the container constituting a means to protect the content of the container against injury upon application of a cover to the container, and an outstanding part carried by the central portion of the member providing a hand grasping means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES W. TREW. 

